Take-up handle for chain saw



Oct. 27, 1959 A. w. MALL TAKE-UP HANDLE Fox CHAIN sAw INVENTR:

ne@ aaron 16, 1956 Patented Oct. 27, 1959 TAKE-Ul HANDLE FOR CHAIN SAWArthur William Mall, Flossmoor, lll., assigner, by mesne assignments, toRemington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation ofDelaware Application March 16, 1956, Serial No. 572,055

5 Claims. (Cl. 14S-32) This invention relates to an auxliary or helperhandle assembly for a chain saw, and more especially to a snapon take-uphandle for use with chain saws having an idler roller at the outer endof 'the guide bar thereof.

A chain saw generally comprises a rigid guide plate or bar connected atone end to a clutch assembly that is power driven usually by a gasolineengine. The outer end of the guide bar is free, and the saw chain passesover the guide bar and is drivingly coupled through the clutch to theengine. There are a number of instances where it is desirable to providea handle assembly at the outer free end of the guide bar. For example, ahelper handle assembly so located is of aid in transporting the chainsaw-for being tixedly secured to the guide bar, it permits a workman tosupport a portion of the chain saw by grasping that helper handle.Another example of a utility afforded by a helper handle of thischaracter is that of permitting the chain saw to be guided in cuttingoperations wherein a straight or true or precision cut is requisite, asin railroad work, bridge construction, etc. It will be apparent that insuch operations, one man will manipulate the saw apparatus from theengine end thereof, while another man aids in the manipulation throughthe helper handle.

There is another situation wherein a helper handle of the characterdescribed is useful if it has special characteristics. This situation iswhere it is desired to provide a means for adjusting the tension of thesaw chain that traverses the guide bar. In such an arrangement, meanswill be provided wherein adjustment of the handle will be operative inellect to lengthen or shorten the guide bar. This feature will bedescribed in greater detail as the specification develops.

It is not practicable to provide a chain saw that has a permanent orauxiliary helper handle at the outer end of the guide bar, for numeroussaw operations now being performed are in the nature of plunge cutswherein the outer end of the guide bar and the saw chain traversing thesame are plunged centrally into the log or timber, and the saw cuts itsway therethrough much as a drill would bore a hole centrally through alog. It will be evident that for operations of this type, it isessential that the outer end of the guide bar be free and clear ofobstructions of any kind.

There isa need then for an auxiliary or helper handle assembly for usewith chain saws that may be removably mounted at the outer end of theguide bar, and even more particularly the need exists for such a handleassembly which may be quickly and easily mounted and removed by even themost unskilled workman, preferably without the need for elaborate tools,and it is accordingly an object of the invention to provide such anarrangement.

Still another object of the invention is in the provision of a take-uphelper handle that is quickly and easily mounted on and removed from achain saw guide bar. Yet another object is to provide a snap-on take-uphelper handle for chain saws and the like.

' to the guide bar in a simple, expedient manner.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide in combination witha chain saw having a guide plate, an idler roller assembly mounted onthe guide plate at the outer end thereof in a manner which permits theidler roller assembly to be moved longitudinally with respect to theguide bar, and to arrange in this structure a take-up helper handlelixedly secured to the guide bar and having a movable element secured tothe idler roller and being cooperatively arranged with adjusting meansfor shifting this member so as to move the idler roller assembly alongthe longitudinal axis of the guide bar. Still a further object is toprovide an arrangement of the character described wherein the idlerroller assembly is provided with an opening therethrough into which isreadily inserted a portion of the movable member of the helper handle,and wherein the helper handle is iixedly secured Additional objects andadvantages, both specii'c and general in character, will become apparentas the speciiication develops.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure l is a side view in elevation of a structuralarrangement embodying the invention, and in which parts are broken awayto show portions of the structure in section; Figure 2 is a longitudinalpartial sectional view as seen along the line 2-2 of Figure l; andFigure 3 is a broken longitudinal sectional view taken along the line3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure l illustrates the outer end portion of a guide bar or plate thatis designated with the numeral 10. As is well known in the art, theinner end (not illustratedl of the guide bar will be secured to thehousing of a clutch and engine assembly, and the saw chain, which isdesignated by the broken lines 11 in Figure l. is entraind about theguide bar l0, and willbe coupled with a power driven drive sprocketwhich will move the chain over the guide bar. The outer end of the guidebar is arcuate, and more specifically is concave inwardly as shown at12. The center of the arc or concavity 12 is at the point 13. Extendingrearwardly or toward the inner end ofthe guide bar, centrally of thearcuate recess 12 and communicating therewith, is a generallyrectangular slot 14.

Mounted on the end of the guide bar is an idler roller assembly 15which, as is seen most clearly in Figure 2, comprises a pair of outerplates 16 and 17 which are spaced from each other by a distance whichpermits the end of the guide bar 10 to be inserted therebetween. Aspacer 18 is interposed between the plates 16 and 17, and is secured inposition therebetween by a plurality of rivets 19. The spacer 18 isdimensioned so as to be snugly but slidably received within the slot 14in the guide bar.

The plates 16 and 17 project outwardly from the guide bar 10, and arespaced apart so as to rotatably receive therebetween an idler roller orwheel 20. The wheel 20 is freely rotatable with respect to the plates 16and 17 and with respect to the guide bar 10, and is provided along theperipheral edge thereof with a channel 21 adapted to receive a portionof the saw links 22 therein which are connected together so as tocomprise the saw chain 11. It will be appreciated that the guide -bar 10along the longitudinal axis thereof is provided with channelscorresponding to the channel 21, which also receive a portion of thelinks 22. Centrally, the plates 16 and 17 are provided with an opening23 extending transversely therethrough which has a use that will bedescribed hereinafter.

While not so illustrated, the roller or wheel 20 is mounted uponbearings that ride on a stationary race interposed between the plates 16and 17. In the event 3 that a more detailed description and illustrationof the idler roller assembly 15 is desired, reference may be made to thecopending application of Arthur W. Mall, Serial No. 733,793, filed May5, 1958.

Partially enclosing the outer end of the guide bar 10 and the idlerroller assembly\15 is a snap-on take-up helper handle assembly that isdesignated generally with the numeral 24. The handle assembly 24comprises a casing or shell 25 having a ange 26 extending laterallytherefrom that denes a partial compartment or closure 27 that receivesthe idler roller assembly l5 and outer end of the guide bar therein. Theshell 25 is equipped at its inner end with a boss 28 having a passagetherethrough that receives therein the shank 29 of a threaded bolthaving a head 30 in the form of a handle that can be readily gripped androtated. 'Ihe shank 29 of the bolt is elongated and extends through anelongated slot or opening 31 formed in the guide bar 10, and which iscentrally disposed with respect thereto along its longitudinal axis. Thenut 32 is adapted to be threadedly received on the shank of the boltand, as is shown in Figure l, is large enough to bear against the edgesof the guide plate which define the slot 31. By this nut and boltarrangement, the shell 25 of the helper handle assembly can be tixedlysecured to the guide bar 10 in a convenient and simple manner, and canbe released therefrom with facility.

Intermediate the ends of the shell 25 are spread shell portions 33 and34 that are spaced apart to deline a nut chamber 35 and a passage 36communicating therewith. Mounted within the chamber 35 for slidablemovement along the longitudinal axis of the guide bar 10 is a threadedadjusting nut or adjusting member 37 having a projection or stem 38extending laterally therefrom which is of polygonal cross section, andis dimensioned to correspond to the size of the opening 23 through theplates 16 and 17 so as to be insertable thereinto. 'Ihreadedly receivedwithin the adjusting member 37 is a threaded end 39 of a shaft 40, andthe shaft is elongated so as to extend outwardly beyond the end of theshell 25, which at that time terminates in an annular collar 41.

Surrounding the outer end of the shaft 40 and fixed thereto by a pin orkey 42 is a handle element or handgrip element 43 having alongitudinally extending passage 44 therethrough for receiving theshaft. Intermediate the ends of the passage 44 is a combination springseat 45 which surrounds the shaft 40 and firmly positions the same withrespect to the handle element 43. Bearing at one end against the springseat 45 is a coil spring 46- that at its other end bears against the pin42. It will be apparent that the pin 42 extends transversely across theshaft 40 through a passageway provided therefor, and

the outer ends of the pin are received within internal recesses 47 and48, respectively, provided along the passage 44. Thus, longitudinalmovement of the handle element with respect to the shaft is afforded,but relative rotational movement therebetween is inhibited. The enlargedouter end of the handle element 43 may have a closure spring plate 49mounted therein to close 0E the passage 44.

The handle element 43 adjacent its inner end is pro vided with anannular enlargement 50 that corresponds dimensionally to the annularcollar 44 of the shell 25. Interposed between the enlargement 50 andcollar 41 is a bearing washer 51 that permits the handle element to berotated readily with respect to the shell. Locking means are provided toselectively prevent rotation of the handle element 43 and the shaft 44secured thereto, and this locking arrangement is designated generallywith the numeral 52.

The locking device 52 comprises a tube 53 that may be formed integrallywith the annular collar 41 of the shell and extends outwardly therefrom.The tube 53 has a passage extending therethrough, and mounted for axiala head 55 and having also a pin 56 extending transversely thereacrossadjacent to and inwardly of the head 55. The pin 56 is adapted to seatwithin a recess 57 formed for that purpose in the outer end of the tube53. The passage through the tube is restricted at 58 to provide a seatfor one end of a helical spring 59 which at its other end seats againstan annular ange 60 provided by the pin. The spring biases the pininwardly and into the position shown in Figure 1. The pin 54 is somewhatlonger than the tube 53, and has an inner end portion adapted to bereceived within one of a plurality of annular recesses 61 formed atspaced points about the inner end of the handle element 43. While onesuch recess 61 would be sullcient, it is desired to provide apluralitypreferably at intervals spaced from each other so as to afforda ner selection in the adjustable setting of the handle.

The chain saw may be used in a conventional manner when the handleassembly 24 is removed therefrom. At such time, the outer end of theguide bar and the idler roller assembly are free, and the saw may beused in plunge cutting operations and otherwise. The force of the chain11 passing over the roller 20 will keep the idler roller assembly 15 inplace, and frictional resistance to the movement of the chain 11 is heldat a minimum at the end of the bar because the roller 20 is supportedfor relatively free rotation on bearings.

When it is desired lto use the helper handle assembly 24, theprotuberance or projection 38 is snapped through the openings 23 toplace it in the position shown in Figure 2. At the same time, the nut 32is turned to a position wherein the major axis thereof extends along thelongitudinal axis of the slot 31, and the nut may be passed freelythrough that slot. Thereafter, it is turned 90 into the position shownin Figures l and 2. and the shell 25 is ixedly secured to the guide bar10 by turning the knob or head 30 of the bolt to tighten the nut 32. Thehelper handle assembly may now be used as an aid in carrying ortransporting the chain saw apparatus, and it may also be used by aworkman to guide the outer end of the bar 10 and chain 11 to insure aprecision severance of a log or timber by the chain saw.

In order to adjust the snap-on helper handle 24 so as to determine thetension in the chain 11, the pin 54 is elevated by lifting the head 55thereof, and it is maintained in elevated position after rotationslightly so as to misalign the pin 56 and recesses 57. The pin may thenbe released, and the transverse key or pin 56 bearing against the outeredge of the tube 53 will maintain the end of the pin 54 in withdrawnposition with respect to the recesses 61 in the handle element 43.Thereafter, the handle element 43 may be rotated in a clockwisedirection to thread the adjusting member 37 along the shaft 40, and tothe right thereof as viewed in Figure 2, whereby the idler assembly 51will be moved outwardly along the longitudinal axis of the guide bar 10to tension the chain 11. If the handle assembly 43 is rotated in theopposite direction, the adjusting member or nut 37 will move to theleft, whereby the idler assembly 15 will be moved to the left andgreater slack will be provided in the chain 11.

When the tension in the chain 11 is suitably established, the head 55 ofthe pin 54 is rotated to align the transverse key 56 with the slots orrecesses 57. The spring 59 will urge the end of the pin 54 downwardlyand into any of the recesses 61 which are aligned therewith. It will beapparent that once the locking pin 54 is released, the handle element 43may be rotated slightly in either direction to bring one of the recesses61 into alignment therewith.

The helper handle assembly is mounted on the guide bar 10 and idlerroller assembly 15 in a single operation as described, and may beremoved therefrom in a reverse operatiu that is simple and easy to carryout.

All that is required is that the head 30 of the locking bolt be rotatedto loosen the nut 32, whereby the nut can be aligned with the slot 31 soas to slip there-' through. The projection 38 can then be snapped fromits extended position through the openings 23 in the idler rollerassembly. Thus, in a minimum of time and in simple operations, the chainsaw can beconverted for plunge cutting operations and guided precisioncutting operations.

The coil spring 46 is a relatively strong or heavy spring that undernormal sawing conditions is effective to provide a direct connectionbetween the saw chain 22 and the shell 25. Such couple between the shelland saw chain includes the handle 43, abutment member 45, spring 46, pin42, shaft 40, member 37 and its polygonal stem 38, and the idler bearingassembly 15. However, since the tension of the chain 22 is transferredto the shell through the spring, the spring prevents over-tensioning ofthe chain since it acts as a` shock absorber and accepts abnormal loads.

While in the foregoing specication an embodiment of the invention hasbeen described in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, .itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes maybe made therein without'departing from the spirit and principles of theinvention.

I claim:

l. In combination with a chain saw having an elongated guide barequipped with a longitudinally lextending slot at the outer end thereof,an adjustable roller assembly at the outer end of said bar comprising apair of spaced support plates having opposing surface portionsfrictionally bearing against the side surfaces of said guide bar, aspacer rigidly secured between said plates and being slidablelongitudinally in said slot for guiding longitudinal movement of saidassembly, a roller rotatably carried between said plates, and a take-uphandle assembly comprising a shell removably secured to the outer end ofsaid guide bar, an adjustable member carried by said shell for movementalong the longitudinal axis of said bar and being connected with saidroller assembly, and means coupled with said adjustment member formoving the same to shift said roller assembly longitudinally withrespect to said guide bar.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said adjustable member has anextension projecting laterally therefrom,

and in which said roller assembly has an opening there through removablyreceiving said extension therein'.

3. In combination with a chain saw having an elongated guide barequipped with a longitudinally extending slot having longitudinal edgesextending inwardly from the outer end thereof, a longitudinallyadjustable roller assembly at the outer end of said car comprising apair of spaced support plates having inner end portions snugly butslidably receiving the slotted outer end of said bar therebetween, aspacer interposed between the inner end portions of said support platesand being rigidly secured thereto, said spacer having longitudinal edgesslidably engaging the longitudinal edges of said slot and Ibeingslidable longitudinally in said slot for guiding longitudinal movementof said roller assembly with reference to said guide bar, a rollerrotatably carried between the outer end portions of said support plates,and a takeup handle assembly comprising a shell detachably connectedadjacent its inner end to said guide bar, an adjustable member carriedby said shell for movement along the longitudinal axis of said bar andbeing con nected with said roller assembly, and means coupled with saidadjustable member for moving the same to shift said roller assemblylongLtudinally with reference to said guide bar.

4. The structure of claim "iiwhich the inner end of said spacer isadapted to alrlut the innermost edge of said slot for limiting inwardlongitudinal movement of said adjustable roller assembly and forpreventing engagement between the periphery of said roller and saidguide bar.

5. The structure of claim 3 in which said adjustable member is providedwith a laterally projecting extension, and in which said roller assemblyis provided with an opening therethrough for removably receiving saidextension.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,670,214 Roche May 15, 1928 2,184,461 Mall Dec. 26, 1939 2,444,132Gordon et al. June 29, 1948 2,527,251 Gordon Oct. 24, 1950 2,642,100Quirke June 16, 1953 2,670,017 Fiest Feb. 23, 1954 2,728,566 BarnettDec. 27, 1955

